Could Ranger Suarez bolster Chicago's rotation? Examining his stats, contract, and potential fit reveals if this lefty is the Cubs' offseason answer.
With free agency on the horizon, now is the best time to look at some potential free agent fits for the Cubs this offseason.
In Jim Bowden’s Top 50 free agent rankings, he listed the Cubs as the best fit for several top free agents. One of those players was Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez. Bowden lists the Cubs, Phillies, Mets, Braves, Orioles, Padres, Giants, Astros, and Tigers as potential fits for the southpaw this winter.
But is Suarez really a good fit for the Cubs? Let’s take a look at his 2025 stats, his potential contract, and his fit in Chicago.
The Player
Suarez has had some up-and-down seasons throughout his Major League career. He started his career as a reliever out of Philadelphia’s bullpen, where he had a solid 3.14 ERA across 37 appearances as a rookie in 2019.
The left-hander stayed in that bullpen role until late in the 2021 season. The Phillies tested him out as a starter down the stretch, and Suarez did not disappoint. He had a 1.51 ERA and 65 strikeouts across 65 ⅔ innings (12 starts).
From then on, Suarez has been a starter in the Majors. He finished with a 3.65 ERA in 2022, a 4.18 ERA in 2023, a 3.46 ERA in 2024, and a 3.20 ERA this past year. With a sub-3.70 ERA in three of the past four seasons, consistency has been at the forefront of the 30-year-old’s game.
Suarez is also coming off arguably the best season of his career as he heads into free agency. His 3.20 ERA is a personal best, and his 151 strikeouts and 157 ⅓ innings pitched were both career-highs.
The Fit
There’s no doubt that Suarez would be a nice fit for the Cubs. He would make Chicago’s rotation even more dangerous, and the southpaw is the type of pitcher you want to give the ball to in a playoff game.
However, staying healthy has been a problem for Suarez in his career. He has never made more than 29 starts in a season and began the 2025 campaign on the injured list due to a back injury. That back injury has been bothering him since the middle of the 2024 season.
His fit on this Cubs team really depends on whether the front office accepts Shota Imanaga’s three-year, $57 million club option. If the team does, Chicago will already have a rotation consisting of Imanaga, Cade Horton, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and Justin Steele (when he’s healthy).
The Contract
Both Spotrac and Bowden believe that Suarez is in for a massive payday this offseason. Spotrac has his market value listed at six years, $161 million, while Bowden believes the left-hander will sign a contract in the ballpark of six years, $164 million.
So, it appears that Suarez will likely sign a contract worth upward of $26 million per season. For a pitcher coming off another solid season, it feels like a fair price.
The Verdict
While signing Suarez would be a nice boost for the Cubs’ rotation, it would be somewhat of a surprise to see the Cubs dish out over $160 million to him. Let’s not forget, Chicago’s front office hasn’t given out a six-year deal to a pitcher since Jon Lester in 2014.
So, it might be unlikely to see the Cubs go out and give Suarez a contract worth around $160 million over six years. However, he does fit the bill of the team’s current pitchers. He doesn’t throw hard, primarily leans on his six-pitch mix to get batters out, and doesn't strike out batters at a high rate.
But if Imanaga returns, it’s hard to imagine the Cubs giving all that money to Suarez in free agency.